Process for operating a high-speed printer or copying machine providing instructions in the event of a failure

ABSTRACT

In a printer or copier, error conditions are sensed. A determination is made as to whether the error condition is readily repairable by the user and if so, the display unit displays information on the error condition, including instructions for repairing the error condition. If, on the other hand, the error condition is determined to be repairable only by a skilled technician, the display unit displays only the instructions to contact the skilled technician.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a method for operating ahigh-performance printer or a copier, whereby a plurality of monitoringunits sense malfunctions of the high-performance printer or of thecopier.

2. Description of the Related Art

A high-performance printer, for example, prints single sheets orweb-shaped sheet material at high speed, for example more than 50 pagesDIN A4 per minute. In order to assure this high printing speed and thefurther-processing of the sheet material, a plurality of complex unitsand control modules are required. Given outage of a single module,operation of the high-performance printer can be so highly disruptedthat printing must be stopped. In order to be able to immediatelyrecognize malfunctions, a plurality of monitoring units senses errorconditions. One such monitoring unit can, for example, be a simple pathswitch that recognizes the opened condition of a device. Thesemonitoring units, however, also include complex detector devices that,for example, determine the wear of a unit.

A great number of error conditions, for example more than 300 differenterror conditions, are possible due to the complexity of thehigh-performance printer or copier system. In order to eliminate theerror conditions, an operator analyzes the error that has occurred andattempts to eliminate the error, for example by replacing parts orundertaking new settings for the high-performance printer. In the priorart, it is standard that the operator is informed about the errorcondition on a display. The operator can then call a menu at the controlpanel unit, i.e. the menu being a compilation of texts in a list whichthe operator references to receive assistance for eliminating theindividual errors.

Given the occurance of relatively serious errors, the operator must havea high degree of training and very good knowledge about thehigh-performance printer in order to be able to eliminate the error, forexample given errors in the transfer printing unit that require thereplacement of parts and the re-setting of the transfer printing unit.In order to be able to undertake the measures for eliminating errors, ahighly qualified maintenance technician is often called, this personbeing given technical instructions for eliminating the error by atechnical handbook or maintenance handbook. This technical handbook isindispensable because specific technical specifications of specifichigh-performance printers are described therein. Since a highlyqualified maintenance technician, however, is not always immediatelyavailable and, on the other hand, idle high-performance printer resultsin economic loss, less trained operators often attempt to eliminate theerror. Practice has shown that such attempts to fix the problemfrequently leads to greater damage. Further, practice has shown that thetechnical handbook is not always immediately available and attempts toelimninate the errors are initiated without consulting the handbook.Such a procedure also often leads to greater damage.

European Patent Document EP-A-0 429 056 describes a method for operatinga copier, whereby a plurality of monitoring units sense error conditionsof the copier. These error conditions are communicated to a centralcontrol via a long-distance data transmission in the form of signals,this central control outputting these error conditions at a controlpanel unit having a display. Error conditions can be classified suchthat, dependent on the seriousness, these error conditions are allocatedto a first error class and to at least one second error class. Inconjunction with the error conditions and the error classes, an operatorcan fetch further information with an input into the control panel unit.The information also contain instructions for error handling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a method for the operation of ahigh-performance printer or of a copier which provides clear andcomprehensive assistance for an operator in case of error. This andother objects and advantages of the invention are provided by a methodfor operating a high performance printer or copier including acquiringthe error conditions of a number of monitoring units of the highperformance printer or copier, displaying the error conditions on adisplay unit of a control panel which serves to input the operatinginstructions and for displaying the operating conditions, dividing theerror conditions into a first class and at least one further error classby a control upon the difficulty of error elimination, given occurrenceof an error condition of the first error class or the further errorclass, calling for information by actuating an input to the controlpanel and displaying on the display unit the instructions for handlingthat error and displaying the existence of error condition of thefurther class on the display of the control panel and requiring anaccess authorization procedure to be performed to access specificinformation regarding error handling of an error condition of thefurther error class.

The invention offers a method for operating a high-performance printeror copier, whereby a multitude of monitoring units sense error statusesof the high-performance printer or copier, a control panel unit thatserves for the input of operating instructions and for displaying theoperating conditions displays these error conditions on a display, theerror conditions are divided by a controller into a first error classand into at least one further error class depending on the seriousnessof the error elimination, information is called by actuating an input atthe control panel unit given the occurrence of an error condition of thefirst and of the further class and are displayed on the display, theinformation containing instructions for error-handling, and whereby thepresence of an error condition of the further class is displayed on thedisplay of the control panel unit. In one exemplary embodiment, accessto the specific information for error handling of error conditions ofthe further error class ensues via an access authorization procedure.

The invention is based on the consideration that error conditions thatcan be eliminated with relatively simple measures should bedistinguished from error conditions that require seriouscounter-measures in order to authorize the suitable operating personnelwith the error-handling task. Accordingly, the invention provides thatthe error conditions be divided by a controller into a first error classand into at least one further error class dependent on the seriousnessof the error elimination. For error conditions that require technicallyinvolved and relatively difficult error-handling measures, only anoperator, for example a technician trained with specific courses, shouldbe permitted to undertake the error-handling when this operator has aspecific access authorization and successfully passes an accessauthorization procedure. Only such a qualified operator is informed offurther information about the suitable error handling on the basis of amenu mode. In the case of error conditions that belong to the firsterror class, any operator responsible for the high-performance printeris given assistance via the display unit of the control panel unit and,according, implements the error-handling measures.

It has been shown in practice that an operator of is not overtaxed bythe measures of the invention and confusion due to the multitude oftechnical information and the multitude of error conditions does notoccur. Due to the display of clear information about an error conditionof the further class, an operator having the appropriate to thetechnical capabilities can be called and, as a result thereof, aminimization of damage is also achieved. Overall, faster error-handlingoccurs due to the method of the invention and the down times for thehigh-performance printer are reduced.

According to a development of the invention, video data are kept on handin a memory, these being capable of being accessed under the control ofa menu when occurs an error condition, whereby these video datapreferably explain the procedures for eliminating an error condition.The procedures for error-handling at the high-performance printer may bedifficult because the steps require spatial visual conceptualization ofthe problem on the part of the operator. Videos of repair activities aretherefore prepared and the video data is deposited in a memory. For suchactivities, the operator can call the video data and have the videosdisplayed on the display of the control panel unit in order to learn theprocedure and to later implement them.

A preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention provides that the dataof a technical handbook is kept on hand in a memory to address theproblems resulting from the further error class and the handbook datacan be retrieved after performing an the access authorization procedure.Such a technical handbook or a maintenance handbook is indispensable inorder to receive detailed technical information at highly complexsystems such as, for example, a high-performance printer in the presentcase. In the exemplary embodiment, the handbook data, for example textdata and graphics data, are kept on hand in a memory. These data can beeasily modified and thus be adapted to the current technical conditionof the high-performance printer or of the copier. On the basis of a menuprompt, the highly qualified operator can call the data of the handbookand carry out the relatively complex measures for error elimination. Anoperator who has no access authorization cannot retrieve the data of thehandbook and is thereby prevented from initiating error-handlingmeasures for which the operator is not sufficiently qualified.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the structure of thehigh-performance printer with the control panel unit;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the data transmission from the errorlocation to the control panel unit;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the schematic structure of the controlpanel unit;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the display of an error on thepicture screen;

FIG. 5 is a screen display of a help text after actuation of anactuation field;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the schematic executive sequence forcalling a training program;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the executive sequence when calling a videosequence;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the menu-controlled calling for informationfrom the handbook; and

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an overview of all help services for theoperating personnel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 schematically shows control parts of a high-performance printer10 that is composed of a multitude of device components as is known, forexample the central printer unit, a paper input unit, a paper outputunit, a stacking unit, one or more transfer printing stations, etc. Adevice controller 12 of the high-performance printer controls theaforementioned components. It is connected to a control panel unit 16via a data bus 14, for example a V24 interface, this control panel unit16 being realized by a personal computer. The high-performance printer10 contains a plurality of monitoring units that signal error conditionsof the high-performance printer to the device controller 12.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the signaling path from the error location upto the display of the error on the display of the control panel unit 16.A monitoring unit 18 identifies an error in the high-performance printer10 and signals this error to the device controller 12. Via the data bus14, the identified error condition is communicated to the control panelunit 16, which displays the type of error on a picture screen 20.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the control panel unit 16. The crux is astandard personal computer 22 that is equipped with a sound card 24, agraphics card 26 and two interfaces COM1 and COM2. Of course, thispersonal computer 22 contains further components such as a disk drive,memories, etc. The sound card 24 is connected to a loudspeaker 28 thatoutputs acoustic information, for example in conjunction with theplayback of video data to be described later. The graphics card 26serves the purpose of fast display of image information on the displayunit 20 and is connected thereto via a converter 30.

The display unit 20 is fashioned as TFT display (TFT is an abbreviationfor thin film transistor). This TFT display is a special form of a LCDpicture screen, whereby thin-film transistors designationally activateand deactivate electrical fields for the polarization of the anisotropicliquid of the LCD elements. With the assistance of TFT technology, ahigh resolution picture is achieved in view of luminance, color andsharpness.

A touch screen unit 34 is provided for inputting data into the controlpanel 16, the touch screen unit 34 being connected via a controller 32to the communication interface COM1. The touch screen unit 34 ismechanically connected to the display 20. When an operator touches atouch-sensitive actuation field of the unit 34, whereby the actuationfield coincides with a display field displayed by the display 20, then aswitch signal is communicated to the personal computer 22. The personalcomputer 22 activates a program part on the basis of this switch signal,as a result whereof a menu control or, respectively, the input ofacknowledgment signals, numbers and text elements is realized, as knownin and of itself. The device controller 12 is connected to thecommunication interface COM2 via the data bus 14.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of a display on the display unit 20. Aplurality of display fields are indicated in the upper line 36, thesecontaining text information and graphic information. The various displayfields “setup” through “off” serve the purpose of user prompting. Bytouching one of these display fields, a switch pulse is triggered by thetouch screen function and the personal computer 22 activates anappertaining program part in order to request input data or,respectively, in order to display appertaining texts. Display fieldsthat relate to the interface channel A and the interface channel B arein a second line 38. The printer can be connected to a higher-rankingsystem via these interface channels. The data to be printed aretransferred from the system to the printer via these channels A, B. Thedisplay field “job cancel” provides the operator with the possibility ofcanceling the print job when this field is touched.

One input field 40 is allocated to the display of an error of thehigh-performance printer 10. In case of an occurring error, a text thatindicates the error appears on a red background. By touching thisdisplay field 40, a switch signal is triggered via the touch screenfunction, and the control panel program to be processed in the personalcomputer 22 branches to a menu program that contains a user interfacefor error conditions. The lowest line 42 of the illustrated imagecontains further information that are of no significance here for thedescription of the invention.

After touching the actuation field, which coincides with the displayfield 40, the control panel program calls a display page 44, as shown inFIG. 5. The previous display page shown in FIG. 4 can still be seen onthe picture screen in the background. In the illustrated example, amonitoring unit identified “toner bottle missing” as the errorcondition. The error condition is explained in the text line 46 on thedisplay page 44. The error condition is analyzed in the sections 48 and50 and an error-elimination measure is indicated.

A plurality of display fields 54 through 60 are indicated in the lowestdisplay line 52. The display field 54 contains the text “maintenancetechnician”. This display field 54 lights up when an error condition ofthe aforementioned, further error class occurs. In other words theelimination of the error is comparatively difficult and should only beundertaken by an appropriately skilled technician. When the displayfield 54 lights up and the congruent actuation field with touch screenfunction is actuated, then the control panel program branches into asoftware routine wherein an operator is checked for accessauthorization. The control panel unit prompts the operator to identifyhimself and input identification data. These identification data arecompared to data of an authorization list that has been previouslyestablished in the personal computer 22. When the comparison is positiveand the input identification data agree with the data on theauthorization list, then the operator receives menu-controlled access tofurther information, for example to information that is deposited in themaintenance handbook.

A display field 56 having the text “video” lights up when videoinformation is present in the memory of the personal computer 22 for theindicated error condition, preferably on a CD-ROM. By touching theappertaining actuation field, the video data is displayed on thedisplay, for example to illustrate measures for eliminating the error.

A display field 58 contains the text “CBT” which indicates a trainingprogram (CBT is an abbreviation for computer based training). Bytouching the appertaining actuation field, a segment of a trainingprogram is called and processed. This segment is preferably allocated tothe error condition displayed at the moment. With the assistance of thistraining program, an operator can be initiated into the correct handlingof the error condition. Further, the training program contains exercisesfor the operating personnel and provides introductions into thestructure of the high-performance printer.

A display field 60 serves as an acknowledgment field. By touching thedisplay field 60, a desired function is selected and potentiallystarted. Moreover, the displayed menu window is closed.

Further, the display page 44 contains a scroll bar 62. With theassistance of this scroll bar, a function from various displayedfunctions can be selected by moving the display element 64, and theselection is acknowledged by actuation of the display field 60.

FIG. 6 schematically shows the executive sequence when calling thetraining program after actuation of the display field 58 “CBT”. Asmentioned, a text that provides information about the nature of theerror condition appears on the display page 44 (block 70). Further, adisplay of the help text (block 72) appears. By touching the actuationfield 58, information that are offered by the training program arecalled and displayed (block 74). The operator can subsequently branchback into the initial display, as shown in FIG. 4 (block 76).

FIG. 7 shows the corresponding executive sequence when calling anddisplaying a video sequence, whereby the actuation field 56 in FIG. 5must be actuated by the operator (blocks 78, 80, 82, 84 in FIG. 7).

FIG. 8 shows the executive sequence when calling the error descriptionand error handling upon utilization of the maintenance handbook (blocks86, 88, 90, 92). This call only ensues when a qualified operator hasdocumented the required access authorization.

FIG. 9 provides an overview of the various assistance that is offered bythe control panel program. First, an error display respectively ensueson the display unit 20 (block 94). Subsequently, a help text isdisplayed that explains the error condition and potentially indicatesthe cause of the error (block 96). The operator then has the possibilityof calling a training program (block 98) or viewing a video sequence onthe display unit 20 (block 100). After passing an access authorizationprocedure, a qualified operating personnel can also call data from themaintenance handbook in order to receive a more detailed errordescription as well as indications for more complicated errorelimination. Although other modifications and changes may be suggestedby those skilled in the art, it is the intention of the inventors toembody within the patent warranted hereon all changes and modificationsas reasonably and properly come within the scope of their contributionto the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for operating a high-performance printeror a copier, comprising the steps of: sensing error conditions of thehigh-performance printer or of the copier using a plurality ofmonitoring units, displaying the error conditions on a display unit by acontrol panel unit that serves for input of operating instructions andfor displaying operating conditions, dividing the error conditions by acontroller into a first error class and at least one further error classdependent on the difficulty of error elimination, given occurrence of anerror condition of the first and of the further class, callinginformation by actuating an input at the control panel unit anddisplaying the information on the display unit, said informationcontaining instructions for error handling, displaying existence of anerror condition of the further class on the display unit of the controlpanel unit, and providing access to specific information for errorhandling of error conditions of the further error class via an accessauthorization procedure.
 2. A method according to claim 1, furthercomprising the steps of: providing a touch screen unit in said controlpanel unit that displays text and graphics information on a displayfield and that, by touching displayed actuation fields, displaysfurther, subsequent display fields.
 3. A method according to claim 1,further comprising the steps of: displaying an error condition within anactuation field and identifying the error condition by text.
 4. A methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising the step of: storing help textsin a memory, the help texts being capable of being accessedmenu-controlled given occurrence of an error condition.
 5. A methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising the step of: storing a trainingprogram on hand in a memory, the training program being capable of beingaccessed menu-controlled given the occurrence of an error condition. 6.A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: for errorconditions of the further error class, storing data of a technicalhandbook in a memory, the data being capable of being accessed afterpassing the access authorization procedure.
 7. A method according toclaim 6, wherein the technical handbook data includes text data,graphics data and/or video data.
 8. A method according to claim 1,further comprising the steps of: inputting identification data in theaccess authorization procedure, comparing the identification data todata of a previously compiled authorization list; and dependent on thecomparison, allowing access authorization to menu-controlled access toinformation.
 9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising thesteps of: a TFT display as the display unit.
 10. A method according toclaim 1, further comprising the step of: storing the training program inthe control panel unit, which contains a personal computer withreference whereto operating personnel is informed by a structure ofhigh-performance printer, a cause of error conditions and a procedurefor elimination of errors.
 11. A method according to claim 1, furthercomprising the step of: connecting a device controller of thehigh-performance printer via a data bus to the control panel unit; andthe device controller reporting the error conditions sensed by themonitoring units to the control panel unit.
 12. A method for operating ahigh-performance printer or copier, comprising the steps of: storingvideo data in a memory, the video data being capable of being accessedmenu-controlled given an occurrence of an error condition, sensing errorconditions of the high-performance printer or of the copier using aplurality of monitoring units, displaying the error conditions on adisplay unit by a control panel unit that serves for input of operatinginstructions and for displaying operating conditions, dividing the errorconditions by a controller into a first error class and at least onefurther error class dependent on the difficulty of error elimination,given occurrence of an error condition of the first and of the furtherclass, calling information by actuating an input at the control panelunit and displaying the information on the display unit, saidinformation containing instructions for error handling, displayingexistence of an error condition of the further class on the display unitof the control panel unit, and providing access to specific informationfor error handling of error conditions of the further error class via anaccess authorization procedure.
 13. A method for operating ahigh-performance printer or a copier, comprising the steps of: sensingerror conditions of the high-performance printer or of the copier usinga plurality of monitoring units, displaying the error conditions on adisplay unit by a control panel unit that serves for input of operatinginstructions and for displaying operating conditions, dividing the errorconditions by a controller into a first error class and at least onefurther error class dependent on the difficulty of error elimination,given occurrence of an error condition of the first and of the furtherclass, calling information by actuating an input at the control panelunit and displaying the information on the display unit, saidinformation containing instructions for error handling, displayingexistence of an error condition of the further class on the display unitof the control panel unit, providing access to specific information forerror handling of error conditions of the further error class via anaccess authorization procedure, and outputting acoustic information.